Hello BIMfans,

Following the publication of my draft EIR a fortnight ago, I decided that I need to get some feedback to ensure that what I have written is suitable.  Having worked on both the client and supply side in the past I am confident in my work, but it is always good to get some fresh perspectives.  As such I asked a few friends in the know.

I asked each of them to review my EIR as if I was procuring them to undertake the work, as well as asking for any suggestions they had to improve this document.  Here is what they had to say:

Chris Weston, Associate for Rio Architects.

Rio Architects are a Cardiff and London based Architectural firm whose mission is to exceed client expectations through sustainable and economically viable solution.

“If Dan brought this job to Rio, while I appreciate it is a simple project, we would be looking for a bit more clarification on a few items including details of roles including the Project Delivery Manager, Project Information Manager and Employer’s Representative. We would also be asking for clarification on the availability and details for any existing asset information well as clarification regarding whose responsibility it is to host the Common Data Environment.  Further detail would also be needed around the Employers Decision Points to enable the effective management of the Supplier Information Exchanges.

This EIR is clear, concise, and hopefully goes some way to demonstrate that BIM isn’t only about big hospitals and schools and that clients can tailor the process to suit even the most modest projects, even a pancake house.”  7/10

Henry Fenby-Taylor, BIM Implementation Manager for WYG Group, and co-founder of dotBuiltEnvironment.

WYG are a project management and global technical consultancy group that provide bespoke solutions to achieve client ambitions.

“An EIR needs to be a well thought out, lean, and relevant document that is project specific and specific to the needs of the employer. This is what I have seen in Dan’s EIR. However falling foul to the terminology it still remains relatively inaccessible to the untrained eye, but to the trained eye? It’s tight, it doesn’t have any flab, it doesn’t ask for anything it doesn’t need, it specifically states where certain aspects of the BIM level 2 standards are not necessary such as the management of security assets.

Where the EIR is less well refined is the specific requirements for data. While the core elements are included, more thought could be provided to make these requirements clearer. The specific data associated to the assets being managed and maintained are to my mind the the core purposes of the information requirements.” 8/10

Paul Surin, Head of Built Environment for Weinerberger, and vice-chair of BIM4M2.

Weinerberger are the world’s largest producer of bricks and a leading provider of clay roof tiles, concrete pavers, plastic and ceramic pipe systems and provide a myriad of sustainable and innovative solutions.  Paul is also a BRE BIM Level 2 Certificated Professional.

“I have had a chance to review Dan’s EIR. The project is related to a domestic house. The wider industry would not normally associate BIM with a house; some would even say it is an overshoot. I disagree and I like Dan’s approach.

This is something we, at Wienerberger, have been working on for last couple of years – BIM in housing, such as our e4 house. This EIR’ seems to be very clear and very easy to understand as a supplier. In this case a supplier could be a bricklayer, a merchant, a carpenter, a plumber etc. so it is vital to define and spell out his requirements in plain language.

I would not specify WIN 7 and Intel i7 within the IT Section. I understand it might be the PC Dan uses however it could limit some suppliers who use Apple or an Android. Perhaps if a definition of a CDE with a web-browser viewer (to allow annotations, collaboration and clash detection via a cloud) it would eliminate any need to specify any operating system.” 8.5/10

Thank you everyone.  Following these reviews, I have revised my EIR by including information regarding the Employer’s Representative and their contact details, confirmation that the Employer Decision points are covered within section 3.1, further detail on the need to appoint and specify who is undertaking the Project Information Manager and Project Delivery Manager roles, clarified my data requirements as well as added further clarity around the IT constraints.  As such, I have now settled on the final published version:

There you have it, by gaining some much needed insight from the industry I have now improved my EIR and gotten it validated too, fantastic.  This means that I have now answered my final Brief Plain Language Question; PLQ1.6 Complete!

Brief:
1.1 Have the purposes of the model been defined?
1.2 Are there any specific data requirements to achieve these purposes?
1.3 What format shall the information be delivered in?
1.4 What standards will be followed?
1.5 What level of accuracy/detail/development is required?
1.6 Is there sufficient information to produce an EIR?

Now that I have my EIR finalised, I need to put my supplier hat on and start working through I now I plan to execute this, but first let’s go through all of the Existing Information…

Note:  If you have any comments or opinions regarding my EIR please let me know either on twitter, or commenting below.